NIK Collection Upgrade: I just saw where DXO has an upgrade to NIK for $60. They tout it has new presets (some look very nice), RAW workflow (that might useful), and support for HD...

2mdman

I just saw where DXO has an upgrade to NIK for $60. They tout it has new presets (some look very nice), RAW workflow (that might useful), and support for HD monitors. If you've upgraded, I'd be interested to know what you think. Thanks in advance.

Haydon

DxO is said to include the suite in one of the releases in the future with PhotoLabs. Otherwise the package from them has been rebundled and only reworked for compatibility issues for those who may have experienced them when NIK became unsupported by Google. The suite at this point is exactly the same.

If you do not experience any issues with Google's rendition at present, I'd suggest you avoid the purchase.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Haydon wrote:

... The suite at this point is exactly the same...

Appears you are incorrect. This is hot off the presses, as the OP explained: https://nikcollection.dxo.com/what-s-new/

$99 new.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Linda From Maine wrote:

Appears you are incorrect. This is hot off the presses, as the OP explained: https://nikcollection.dxo.com/what-s-new/

$99 new.

Looks interesting but is it worth the $99? If anyone gets it and can review it for us Hogger's that would be great. I already own the collection and use it all the time and like what I have.

Haydon

Linda From Maine wrote:

Appears you are incorrect. This is hot off the presses, as the OP explained: https://nikcollection.dxo.com/what-s-new/

$99 new.

Thanks Linda, I just followed your link. This seems like a legitimate upgrade and not a compatibility fix.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

DanielB wrote:

Looks interesting but is it worth the $99? If anyone gets it and can review it for us Hogger's that would be great. I already own the collection and use it all the time and like what I have.

Daniel,

The link says there is a free trial. If you know the original well, you could provide a useful review!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

bsprague wrote:

Daniel,

The link says there is a free trial. If you know the original well, you could provide a useful review!

Installing the free trial will likely overlay any previous existing copy. Having a backup install of the original is critical.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Haydon wrote:

Thanks Linda, I just followed your link. This seems like a legitimate upgrade and not a compatibility fix.

Its is legitimate but many are concerned it still hasn't provided enough of an upgrade to made the cost worthwhile for them. I'm user of all DXO's products so it was sort of a no brainer for me.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

2mdman wrote:

I just saw where DXO has an upgrade to NIK for $60. They tout it has new presets (some look very nice), RAW workflow (that might useful), and support for HD monitors. If you've upgraded, I'd be interested to know what you think. Thanks in advance.

The raw workflow is not really accurate. They are bundling a free copy of DXO PhotoLab Essential with the Nik Collection. PhotoLab's local adjustments are based on the U-point functionality taken from the Nik Collection when DXO purchased it in 2017. The "Raw workflow" presumes you will start your raw processing in DXO Photolab Essential and make use of its U-point local adjustments before exporting your file as a tiff or jpeg to one of the 7 Nik Collection applications. For those not committed to a specific raw processor, the combination of the Nik Collection 2 with a free copy of PhotoLab Essential is a very good deal, PhotoLab Essential on its own usually sells for $129. So, the term "raw workflow" is used rather loosely and will disappoint those who have no intention of using PhotoLab. Whether the new version of the Nik Collection itself has enough changes to make it a worthwhile upgrade for the average current Nik user is still unclear.

N4646W

mwsilvers wrote:

Installing the free trial will likely overlay any previous existing copy. Having a backup install of the original is critical.

Yes it will, and if you store the original NIK file on an internal drive, back up usb drive, or stick, it will also be over written and usless if you use the free trial and then decide not to upgrade.

Ron

Davidka

That I know of with Mac's Mojave, Nik doesn't work with smart objects. It's nice to go back into the filters to make changes.

Vince68 Loc: Wappingers Falls, NY

DanielB wrote:

Looks interesting but is it worth the $99? If anyone gets it and can review it for us Hogger's that would be great. I already own the collection and use it all the time and like what I have.

I still have the free version of Nik from Google, which I have never really used all that much to begin with. Here is an article from the Photography Life website if anyone is interested in it.

https://photographylife.com/news/dxo-nik-collection-2-announcement

If you don't feel like reading the article, the conclusion is that this update is pretty underwhelming, and not really worth $99.00 for new users ($59 if you already own a license). The author did however say that he is still going to upgrade his current version as he uses NIK in his workflow quite a lot and is happy with it.

Bottom line is, if you use NIK as part of your normal workflow, you like it and are happy with it, then upgrading may very well be worthwhile for you. In my case, as it is not part of my workflow and I rarely use it, upgrading is not in my plans. You use what works best for you to process your images as you want them to look.

RichLacey Loc: Atlanta

mwsilvers: My interest is in the upoint technology in RAW processing but NOT as a stand-alone application. I almost bought in. Thanks so very much for the clarification. I am a heavy Viveza user. Way to go!!!

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Vince68 wrote:

I still have the free version of Nik from Google, ... (show quote)

I disagree to a certain extent. For brand new users of the Nik Collection who also are not committed to a specific raw processor like Lightroom or ON1, the $99 bundle also includes DXO Photolab Essential, normally $129 on it's own, for FREE. That's actually a pretty awesome deal.

For current owners of DXO's PhotoLab Elite or Essential versions, or for those who have no intention of using PhotoLab in their workflow, the cost of the upgrade to the Nik collection 2 is much more problematic as you suggest.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

2mdman wrote:

I just saw where DXO has an upgrade to NIK for $60. They tout it has new presets (some look very nice), RAW workflow (that might useful), and support for HD monitors. If you've upgraded, I'd be interested to know what you think. Thanks in advance.

I just downloaded it this morning. I'll play with it in the next few days and let you know. I like that it has better integration with DXO PhotoLab, and that the U-Point technology is now part of PhotoLab, and that it can deal with raw files without first converting it to a bitmap file. Let's see if the performance and stability has improved.